Relegation the Reading Way

[melonhead]

Is:- Buying 1 player like Robin Friday(and then getting fed up with his volatility after a couple of seasons and getting shot of him to cardiff)
Using every resource(within reason and finances) to build the best playing squad
Playing with a team spirit-(agreed-and thats what we are doing now)
Having Managers who will buy skill with problems rather than mediocrity-what?
Building tactics around the strengths of the players(agreed- and thats what we are doing now)
Developing home-grown players(agreed-and thats what we are doing)
Is not:-
Refusing to invest adequately in the playing staff-define adequately, and id suggest that what you describe is exactly the reading way for the last ten years, which non coi8ncidentally have been th emost succesful in our long history
Refusing to spend money-LOL!
Keeping players in the squad who will not get a game -LOL!
Buying players for their strengths and then refusing to play to them tactically-LOL!
Failing to utilise the rules of the division for the benefit of the team-what?

The Reading Way is not currently being followed!-yes it is, to the bloody letter

what are you on about?

[Fox Talbot]

There is no Reading Way.

SJM had his strategy which was different from what went before and probably will be different from what follows under the Russians.

Even under SJM the Reading Way oscillated between the madness of Tommy Burns and the parsimony of Mark McGhee.

[Stuboo]

Can we have a thread just for the Siege? Like the snowball stat thread, and then he doesn't have to annoy anyone with his incessant, ridiculous ramblings.

I find Siege entertaining.

Can't agree on this occassion though, the Siege. The Reading way is not recruiting troublemakers, a strong work ethic and a great team sprit, with individual brilliance here and there.

[floyd__streete]

There is no Reading Way.

Agreed. Load od sanctimonious old b*llocks.

Also, there is no room 362 in this hotel. Sometimes the complaints will be false.

[super darren caskey]

Its a load of bulls**t

Kinda like Camerons Big Society

[Avon Royal]

What Arsenal so brutally exposed tonight is the fallacy of the ridiculous notion that Reading FC somehow have a monopoly on togetherness and team spirit.

In the Championship our spirit helped our bunch of ordinary players to rise above the ordinary players of the other teams. Upon promotion the club simply assumed that the same would be true in the Premier League. It isn't - turns out good players have spirit too......

Were we really so arrogant as to believe that the normal rules didn't apply to us? That somehow we didn't have to invest, didn't have to strengthen to survive like every other club has had to? When other teams were getting stronger, we had the likes of John Madejski on the radio extolling the virtues of the Reading Way like it was some sort of Asterix-esq magic potion. Behind it we had nothing, the very essence of the footballing emperor's new clothes.

In all honesty sacking Brian now would probably not help in the slightest, we need to try to hang in there and try to at least stay in touch until January - then we have to swallow our pride and play by the rules of the game. That means investing, strengthening and accepting that there is no long term substitute for at least an element of quality. Nobody is advocating throwing money around for the sake of it, but prudent investing in key positions is vital.

The Reading Way is dead, long live Reading.

[southbank1871]

Whether Reading stay up or go down, one thing for sure is that you'll still be a complete helm.

[cmonurz]

Top post, 100% agreed.

[floyd__streete]

Top post, 100% agreed.

Avon's or SB's?

[Thou Voice]

Do not fear, I am suuuure soon it will be time to "cut the cloth"... ...again.

We'll end up with no manager at this rate and continue to snatch defeat away from the jaws of victory.

Do you see?

[southbank1871]

I was probably a bit harsh on reflection Avon's alright.

[Avon Royal]

I was probably a bit harsh on reflection Avon's alright.

Don't worry, no offence taken. I think we're all feeling a little edgy tonight!

[cmonurz]

Top post, 100% agreed.

Avon's or SB's?

Avon's.

SB is alright but he's doing this positive schtick thing on here tonight, so is officially Tuesday's helm.

[southbank1871]

Positive schtick?

[cmonurz]

Sorry got you confused with someone else.

No helms at all on this thread.

[southbank1871]

We're all helms to be fair

I don't want to agree with Avon's post, but he makes some good points.

At least Rother is nowhere to be seen.

[Libertine]

As much as I want to see this group of players succeed, especially the ones who had a direct hand in our promotion, and I REALLY do want to see this group of guys succeed, as of yet they haven't proved they can compete at this level...and our results tell me so.

Heart, soul and togetherness on their own can take a team a long way, but only so far. We have talent on this team. The core of this team is Premier League quality. We just don't have enough players who can compete at this level. Joe Cole is finally getting his chance to "prove himself" to Brendan in Liverpool in a cup game, the ultimate "spare part". Craig Bellamy is playing in the Championship. How would either or both of those two in the middle of the pitch wearing the hoops? I know, I know, Bellamy wanted to "go home" so that is why he dropped down. Cole would cost a lot of money (definitely not "The Reading Way" kinda player). But my point is that there is Premier League quality players out there who were available. Would/could Bellamy have been persuaded to change his mind for one last fling at the Premier League? Who knows? Probably not but they, or players like them, would fill some holes in this squad which need to be filled by Premier League experienced/quality players.

I just don't know who, fitting that description, could be persuaded to move to us in January to fill those holes unless we start getting some points first.

[Arch]

One of the singular pleasures of the last decade on Hob Nob for me has been the lunar regularity with which this kind of thread has been exposed as premature drivel. Same self-indulgent names; same short memories. Wrist-slashing incontinence - the Hob Nob way - never more entertainingly OTT than the night after a League Cup game.

[PBR]

What Arsenal so brutally exposed tonight is the fallacy of the ridiculous notion that Reading FC somehow have a monopoly on togetherness and team spirit.

In the Championship our spirit helped our bunch of ordinary players to rise above the ordinary players of the other teams. Upon promotion the club simply assumed that the same would be true in the Premier League. It isn't - turns out good players have spirit too......

Were we really so arrogant as to believe that the normal rules didn't apply to us? That somehow we didn't have to invest, didn't have to strengthen to survive like every other club has had to? When other teams were getting stronger, we had the likes of John Madejski on the radio extolling the virtues of the Reading Way like it was some sort of Asterix-esq magic potion. Behind it we had nothing, the very essence of the footballing emperor's new clothes.

In all honesty sacking Brian now would probably not help in the slightest, we need to try to hang in there and try to at least stay in touch until January - then we have to swallow our pride and play by the rules of the game. That means investing, strengthening and accepting that there is no long term substitute for at least an element of quality. Nobody is advocating throwing money around for the sake of it, but prudent investing in key positions is vital.

The Reading Way is dead, long live Reading.

So True!

[Avon Royal]

One of the singular pleasures of the last decade on Hob Nob for me has been the lunar regularity with which this kind of thread has been exposed as premature drivel. Same self-indulgent names; same short memories. Wrist-slashing incontinence - the Hob Nob way - never more entertainingly OTT than the night after a League Cup game.

Yep - I remember when this sort of thread was exposed as premature drivel in 07/08......